Reading Comprehension

Problem Scenario

I wondered why it was hard to understand certain things when you read and what caused it. So, I came up with my question about this subject that interested me.

Broad Question

What changes reading comprehension?

Specific Question

If the distraction is larger, will it be harder to comprehend when you read?

Hypothesis

The greater the distraction is the harder it will be to comprehend what you read.
Graph of Hypothesis

Variables

Independent Variable:

Distraction

Dependent Variable:

Comprehension
Variables That Need To Be Controlled:
Page Length
Reading Ability
Volume (of Distraction)

Vocabulary List That Needs Explanation

None

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General Plan

For my experiment, I will have different people read three chapters of a book. For the first chapter, I will have music playing in the background. Then for the next chapter, there would be people talking. During the final chapter, it would be silent. Then I will ask the people who are reading 10 questions for each chapter.

Potential Problems And Solutions

Some people may be stronger readers than others, but if everyone has the exactly the same reading conditions then the results should be similar.

Safety Or Environmental Concerns

There are none.

Experimental Design

(add the correct headings from the experimental design page before beginning)

Controlled, manipulated experiment

What is your experimental unit?

Number Of Trials:

5

Number Of Subjects In Each trial:

4 people

Number of Observations:

5

When data will be collected:

Between 2/4 through 3/1

Where will data be collected?:

School

Resources and Budget Table

Item	Number needed	Where I will get this
A Book- Divergent	1	I own it.
Music
Posterboard	1	Staples
Camera	1	I own one.

Detailed Procedure

1) Have different people read the first chapter of Divergent, while music is playing in the background.
2) Ask those people 10 questions about that chapter.
3) Then, they will read the second chapter, while people are talking in the background.
4) Ask them 10 questions about the chapter.
5) They will read the third chapter, in silence.
6) Ask them the final 10 questions.

Diagram

Photo List

I will take pictures of people reading and screenshots (on my Kindle) of the boo

Time Line

January- Learn about science fair.

February- Begin experiment

March- Finish experiment.
End of March- Science fair

Data Table

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Data Analysis

All Raw Data

Subjects	W/ Distraction	W/O Distraction
#1	6/10	7/10
#2	7/10	8/10
#3	5/10	6/0
#4	7/10	3/10

Graphs

Photos

Results

In the graph above, you can can see that Subject #1, #2, and #3 did better on their comprehension when they listened to music. Only Subject #4 did worse with music. When Subject #2 and #4 got the same scores (7) when they read in silence.

Conclusion

Does distraction type effect reading comprehension? It does. When you read with out any distraction you don't need to focus as hard, but if there is something that distracts you, you have to work harder to focus harder. Some people do understand reading easier when it's silent, but others don't. Everyone understands reading at different levels.

Discussion

The first three subjects all improved with a form of distraction, probably because you have to focus more. The final subject did worse. That person probably had a harder time reading and had to work harder to comprehend. Since every person is different, so different people who do this experiment will get different results. So, there is no constant improvement because each subject comprehended differently. They each answered different questions correctly, but there was only a few questions each person got. After performing this experiment, I was able to answer my question. Every person comprehends reading at a different level, so some people can comprehend what they read with a distraction or without. So, if the distraction is larger, it probably won’t matter for certain people.The only problem I had was that the time was limited. It would have been a better project if I could have expanded the amount of people helping in this experiment. You can have more people be subjects, but due to time I had to do a limited amount of people. I would have liked to have more people participate.

Benefit to Community and/or Science

This experiment is beneficial to the community and/ or science because people who need to study and concentration can focus better.

Background Research

• When a person is distracted, the brain refuses it and neutral information may enter.
• People who are too tired can't stand distraction.
• Reading comprehension is the level of understanding of what a person read.

References

ScienceDaily, 26 Mar. 2007. Web. 13 Mar. 2013.

"Reading Comprehension." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 15 Mar. 2013. Web. 15 Mar. 2013.

Abstract

If the distraction is larger, will it be harder to comprehend when you read? I thought that the larger the distraction, the harder it will be to comprehend what you read. Reading comprehension is the level of understanding of what a person read. When a person is distracted, the brain refuses it and neutral information may enter. People who are overly tired can't stand distraction.
Then I did my experiment. So, I had four people read and they answered questions about what they read. Every person except one got one more point when reading with music/ people talking. Now I know that different people can comprehend with different reading conditions. Each person remembered different details, no one is the same.